A pain-free life for Dasha

Sometimes childhood ends far too early. At just two years old, Dasha was diagnosed with diabetes. And although the illness divided her life into "before" and "after", it also taught her the most important lesson – never give up.

Her parents immediately grew alarmed when their daughter began to lose weight rapidly and constantly asked for water. With a blood glucose level of 19 mmol/L (with the normal range up to 5), she was hospitalized first in Nikopol and then in Dnipro, where she was prescribed lifelong insulin therapy.

Life with diabetes means painful procedures, a strict daily routine, and a carefully controlled diet with carbs counted every day.

Dasha had to prick her fingers 10–15 times a day and receive up to five insulin injections. The punctures wouldn’t heal, became inflamed, and her skin grew rough.

Five years ago, she started using Freestyle Libre 2 sensors – a huge relief for the whole family. The sensor automatically measures glucose every five minutes and sends the data to a smartphone. No more finger pricks. Using sensors also helps reduce the risks of hypo- and hyperglycemia, slows the progression of complications affecting the kidneys, heart, blood vessels, and nerve endings. And some complications have already appeared: Daria’s eyesight has worsened, and the sensitivity in her legs has decreased.

Dasha is now in eighth grade. She loves chemistry, algebra, and English. She has many friends, and at home her cat Maska is always waiting for her.

Daria dreams of returning to her hometown, Nikopol. For five months, the family lived under constant shelling, and then a missile exploded near their house. Their home miraculously survived, but staying there became too dangerous. Now they rent an apartment in the city of Pokrov.

From the age of six, Daria practiced rock climbing, but after the full-scale invasion she had to stop. In Pokrov, she now trains in pole acrobatics. Sports are very important for people with diabetes — physical activity increases cells’ sensitivity to insulin.

We are announcing a fundraiser to purchase 24 sensors. Dasha’s grandmother is bedridden and cared for by Dasha’s mother. Girl’s father has lost his job. Let’s join together and help Daria protect her health!